Why I Dropped Out of a PhD at UT Dallas

[la_fields]

Every single one of my professors and advisors said they were sorry to hear I was leaving the program for a full-time job outside of academia--I'm not sorry at all! Getting a PhD isn't as hard as they try to make it with all the superfluous exam requirements, and the wooing of faculty members to get a committee, and the years and years of work and

Comments

One who is still at UTD

[anonymous]

Hello Lauren,
I totally agree that higher education is very antiquated, with programs working against students instead of actually with them. I am also in the same situation, living off a tiny stipend, and the lack of value I feel every day I walk into the department. I am also considering the idea of leaving the pursuit of a phd behind and pursue a career elsewhere. The truly heartbreaking issue is that I LOVE teaching. I love my undergrads, and would hate to leave them for a job simply so that I can pay bills and eat. However, my stomach grumbles no matter how much I love teaching, so I may be on the same situation as well as early as this summer😢😱💸

Re: One who is still at UTD

[la_fields]

That's tough--it was an easier decision for me (though it still took years of trying and getting used up for my earnestness to finally quit) because teaching isn't my true passion--it's nice, but to me it's just a job, and without any zeal for it, it's a horrible job; if any other job demanded that much time and scrutiny and personal commitment for that little money it would be a joke. I consider myself a writer first, and adjust my life to support that in whatever way gets me the most reward for the least amount of my time and creative energy. The longer I stayed in school the more I lost my love for my passion, the more I was hurt financially and emotionally, and so I did everything I could to find a job and escape. I was lucky to find the job I have when I did; I got out without going into debt just to live through the summer